2014 NBA Playoffs: Paul George steps up, keeps Pacers season alive

(1) Indiana Pacers 93, (2) Miami Heat 90
Paul George: 37 points (15-28 FG,) 6 rebounds, 6 steals, 2 assists
Dwyane Wade: 18 points (7-14 FG,) 8 rebounds, 7 assists

With his team down 3-1 in the 2014 Eastern Conference Finals, and his season on the brink, Paul George took full responsibility in extending Indiana's season and forcing a Game 6 against the Miami Heat.

George registered one of the most stellar Pacer playoff performances in recent memory, as his 37 points (31 in the 2nd half,) 6 rebounds and 6 steals propelled Indy to a season salvaging victory.

21 of his 31 2nd half points came in the all important fourth quarter, where some legacies are molded or simply erode away.

Miami Heat superstar LeBron James was parked on the bench for majority of the game, as some iffy foul calls forced him to the sideline. James played only 24 minutes, scored only 7 points (2-10 FG) and had 4 assists and 2 rebounds.

James' 7 points is the fewest he's ever had in a playoff game.

With LeBron being strapped to the bench for the bulk of the game, Paul George drew the assignment of stopping the league's best shooting guard in Dwyane Wade. This task proved to be less tedious and strenuous on George, who looked fresh and engaged in the final period of the contest.

In the fourth, George had his legs and wasn't experiencing that crippling exhaustion that usually stems from having to contain LeBron James over the 48 minutes in a professional basketball game.

From 6:22 on in the 4th quarter, George had 4 of Indiana's 5 field goals and 13 of their final 17 points. This includes Paul nailing a huge three pointer with 46 seconds left after Heat big man Chris Bosh nailed a three the prior possession to cut it to a one point Pacer lead.

It was my belief, that if this game came down to big shot making and taking, Miami would march away victorious. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade would be too much to overcome, and the threats multiply as Chris Bosh, Mario Chalmers and Ray Allen all have the capability of making the dagger shot.

Usually, Indiana tends to cower away in the big moments, plagued by uncertainty and stagnation on the offensive end. Many become unsure of who will take and make the big shot, but Paul George put a stern dismissal to these notions tonight.

George was focused, fearless and fiery, countering every big Miami play with a dazzling maneuver of his own. George's dominance was not restricted to the offensive end, as his elite defense was in full throttle during tonight's contest.

George and Lance Stephenson refused to rest on their laurels, picking up Wade, Mario Chalmers and Norris Cole at almost full court, forcing them to squander away the rhythm Miami had for the entire first half.

George's game was a blend of activity, assertiveness and bounciness. He imposed his will all over the court, borrowing some of that aggression and energy Lance Stephenson seems to have such a high dosage of.

Many fans question if Paul George has entered the realm of superstardom that LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Blake Griffin and Chris Paul dwell in. George is one of the most debated figures when it comes to discussing top ten NBA players, and Wednesday night he showcased to the entire world that he's worthy of being mentioned amongst the NBA's elite.

For some eerie reason, their seems to be an unwritten rule that Paul George must accomplish what it takes some stars ten plus years to accomplish in the beginning stages of his career. George is only 24, his best days are ahead of him and he shouldn't be faulted for Indiana falling victim to an all-time great Miami Heat team.

Miami boasts championship experience, deep, poised veteran talent, an extremely skilled forward in Chris Bosh, the league's best shooting guard in Dwyane Wade and the world's best player in LeBron James.

Miami never seems panicked when Indiana starts to rally, or muster up a great deal of momentum. They remain unfazed, with their mind fixated on victory. Indiana eventually wants to mimic this strong mental makeup, the makeup that is usually associated with a championship caliber team.

As each grueling game unfolds, it's illustrated to George and these Pacers what's needed to have their name spewed out when mentioning the league's top tier teams. They want to abandon the inconsistencies that have hampered them for the entire second half of the season, for more gritty and brute play.

They want to develop that sense of calmness that Miami firmly grasps onto even in the most chaotic of situations. Showings such as this simply paint George as the reliable figure who can deliver a victory even when the odds seem to be stacked against you.

With every attack of the basket, George pushed Miami back on their heels. With each flick of the wrist, Paul George gave the Indiana faithful a reason to leap out of their chair and cheer. Each and every one of George's basket restored the faith that Miami had done an excellent job of stripping away in Games 2, 3 and 4.

Now, Indiana must venture into Miami, and face an eager and angered Heat team who lost the opportunity to close this Indiana team out in Game 5. Despite LeBron James not leaving his usually massive imprint on this game, the Heat still had the opportunity to emerge victorious.

They only lost by three points, and will look to bury this Indy team once and for all on Friday in front of their sure to be hysterical home crowd.

But for tonight, the exciting Pacer play was led by Paul George who pushed himself one step closer into the elite player conversation with this performance. George is in the intermediate stages of shaping his legacy, and this game tonight was a mesmerizing start.

Does Indiana have a chance in Game 6? Will this series go to a Game 7? Share thoughts and opinions on Twitter (@wcboyer24) and continue to support The Basketball Society.

2013 NBA Finals: Game 1 notes

Just one of many compelling elements to this year's NBA Finals is the impending clash of styles between these two teams. Not in the sense that they are different, but because they both like to and are highly capable of scoring the basketball.

Miami averages a league high of 108.4 points per 100 possessions, the most efficient this postseason. San Antonio is at second at 106.5. The Heat also lead the NBA in half-court efficiency, averaging .94 points per play, with the Spurs second at .93. Aside from the numbers, if you've watched either of these teams play you know they both have high-octane offensive attacks, likely giving the advantage to whichever team can find ways to neutralize the other and expose deficient match ups.

For San Antonio, the challenge is maintaining a their preferred uptempo pace against the fastest team in the NBA. The conventional plan would be to dictate a slower pace (a la Memphis, Chicago, Indiana) and look to attack the Heat where they struggle the most: in the paint and on the glass. Still, it will be intriguing to see how Miami fairs against the most potent offense than they've faced this entire postseason (by far). 

For Miami, it's all about LeBron James, or is it? Dwayne Wade came up big in Game 7 against Indiana but a quick turnaround for his third consecutive Finals trip is something to watch for as he battles his right knee injury. San Antonio doesn't necessarily have the interior grit of Indiana, but they make up for it in savvy instincts and effort. If this series is in fact going to remain uptempo, advantage Heat. 

Key match ups:

- LeBron James/Kawhi Leonard: Much has been written and discussed about the 21-year-old's match up against the four-time MVP. Even with his athletic 6'7 frame and astounding 7'3 wingspan, he still has the toughest work weeks of his career approaching.

- Tony Parker: I expect to see multiple assignments for the Frenchman, especially LeBron. With Miami's constantly "switching" defense, those chances are not uncommon. Still, neutralizing Parker has to be a top priority as the starting engine and crucial catalyst for the Spurs' offense.

- Tim Duncan/Chris Bosh: Playing against "his idol", Bosh is up against a Tim Duncan that looks nowhere near 37 years of age. Chris "Birdman" Andersen and Udonis Haslem can assist, but Chris Bosh is the only big for Miami that can look to win the individual match up with Duncan.

Notes for Game 1:

- Tempo, tempo, tempo: The beginning pace will be most indicative of how these teams want to play, particularly San Antonio, as they adjust to the speed of Miami's defense. 

- Rested or rusty: San Antonio coming off of the ten day break, their physical energy should be evident in the opening minutes.

- Bench play: The Spurs' bench has played a bit more productively than Miami's in these playoffs, we should see players from both benches look to assert themselves tonight. 

- TURNOVERS: As the case is with ever opponent of the Heat, if you turn it over  15 times or more, you're probably done for. How the Spurs handle the Miami defense in terms of ball security and their scoring attack will be vital.

In the NBA Finals, the team that has won Game 1 has gone on to win the series 71 percent of the time. The San Antonio Spurs are 4-0 in the NBA Finals. Miami wants to repeat. Stay tuned as I continue to track and share notes on the 2013 NBA Finals.